The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-08
THE NEW WESTERN LINE
SEEKING TERMINAL FACILITIES IN
SAVANNAH.

General Manager j. A. A. West, of the
Birmingham and Atlantic Air Line,
Before the Board Of Trade-What is
Being Done on the Road, and What
the Company Expects to Do-Routes
Into the City.
Maj John A. A. West, with Maj Gordon
Guisdner Chief Engineer of the United
States Construction and Improvement Com
pany, aud Mr.. Arthur Pou, Chief Engineer
of the Savannah Dublin and Western Short
Line railroad, accompanied by
Col. j. L. Warren, Col Hughes
and other directors of the road,
appeared before the Board of Trade yester-
and Atlantic Air Line. Maj.
West called attention to the fact that
he has just received a letter from a
business firm in small Alabama town
through which the road passes, asking to
make arrangements with a cotton firm in
Savannah to ship to Savannah between
5000 and 10000 bales of cotton during the
approaching season. This, he said, is the
first fruit offered.
ADVANTAGES TO SAVANNAH.
He then elaborated upon the advantages
to be gained by Savannah merchants in di-
minishing their freight charges. The line
from here to Macon being thirty five miles
shorter than the Central will, he said, if
it charge the maximum rates allowed by the
State Railroad Commission, diminish Sa-
vannah freight charges 49, per cent. Take
any firm in Savannah doing a fair business,
and diminish their freight 33N per
cent, and what an immense advantage it
will give them over their competitors
for Macon's business. Between Savannah
and Americas the road will diminish the
freight charges 663S per cent between Sa-
vannah and Birmingham, with its immense
business, the road will be compelled by State
laws to charge by the mile fixed rates, which
will diminish freight charges over 20 per
cent, on account of having much shorter
line than any other road.
THE ALABAMA DIVISION.
From LaGrange to Birmingham Maj.
West has canvasSed the entire line. The
towns and counties have, he said, made
liberal subscriptions to the road, and have
freely given the right Of way. We have
already at work a large force of hands
grading the line near Savannah, and Maj.
Guisdner with corps of engineers
different lines from this side the
Ogeechee into Savannah. The first
line which is now being surveyed, will con-
meet with the Savannah, Florida and Western
railway; the second will connect with the
Central railroad; the third will be down the
right-of-way Of the Central, over the right
ofway of the Charleston and Savannah to
the Savannah, Florida and Western; the
fourth will be down the bank of the Ogeechee
canal; the fifth will be to the Lamar and
Gordon wharves; the sixth will join with
the Deptford property; the seventh will be
down East Broad street into Bay and join
with the Bay street wharves; and the eighth
will be above the city, across the river to
Hutchinson's Island.
TERMINAL FACILITIES WANTED
What the road specially desires to secure
is terminal facilities. If property suitable
for this purpose cannot be purchased at
fair and reasonable price the new road will
be connected with some existing road Mai,
West asked the members of the Board of
Trade to lend him helping hand in gain
ing an entrance into Savannah, pledging
his enterprise to guard and promote the in
terest of the city and its citizens.
Capt f. NJ Hull, President of the Board
of Trade, asked Maj. West what connection
the new line will make with existing lines
at Birmingham.
To this, after a moments thought, Mai
West replied that he would prefer his
friends in New York to answer. within
the past six MONTHS" he said, according to
the Manufacturers Record, over $50, 000,-
600 have been invested in Alabama, and
evidences of a boom are seen in every town
rich in mineral wealth."
Maj. West then exhibited maps, showing
his line and its territory, and after a talk
with several members of the board, Capt
Hull addressed Maj West and his associates,
and said that he cheerfully pledged them
the sincere support of the board and that
the people of Savannah will render every
assistance in their power to promote the
enterprise.